Adjustable ventilator



Patented Nov. 4, 1952 ADJUSTABLE VENTILA-TOR Hilton- H.- McCahe, John M. Qonnell,v Merritt. H.. Bailey. and Lawrence W. Richards, Palm Springaflalif;

Application March 25,1950, Serial No; 151,946.

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates toimprovements in gas distributing devices or diiiusers. employed in connection. with ventilating or air conditioning systems and; particularly to a damper or. like control deviceqior regulating the flow of air from. one area. to, another.

One object of the invention is to provide an air: distributing device, of the character referred to, which, when used in connection with an air distributing system of abuilding, provides an accurate and variable control. for the distributionrof air to rooms-of various sizes; provides a balancing, medium when employed in connection. with heating; and cooling systems; provides. a damper means. for closing a cooling system so as to prevent the escape of heat fromthe inside tothe outside of abuilding. through the cooling ducts. when the cooling. system is inoperative; provides-an effective. control means for varying the vol-umeofheating or cooling air introduced into'a room or other area of a building so. as to distribute the air in desired volumes through,- out the building; provides a, means for varying the volume of eitherhot or cold air which may pass through a. single. duct; provides a Ventilating; means vloy which the. desiredvolunie of the air conditioningmedium can be accurately controlled; and provides a simple, yet highly efficient, volume control means which is. adapted for convenient manual adjustment.

rAnother obj'ectof. the inventionis to. provide a dam-per or like control device which includes a plurality of concentric annular vanes or louvers which are interconnected to provide a unitary structure, the outermost vane being adapted'for installation withinfan. opening in the-ceiling or. wall of av room or within an air duct-or within a. side opening of such a. duct.

Another object isto provide. a device'of the type indicated in whichv each annular vane is supported by. the next outer vane of the series and adapted for. simultaneous rotation with its.

supporting vane and. for independent rotation with respect. to. its supportingvane.

Another object is .to provide a device, of the class referredto, in which the means for rotatably supporting a vane from the next outer vane comprises cam followers, in the form of pins, carried by each vane and engageable in inclined cam slots of the next outer vane of the series of vanes, this connection adapting each vane: to rotate and move axially with respect to the nextouter vane.

. Another objectis to provide a device of the type specifled in which the camcslot of each 2. vane has end portions or lands which form rests for the cam followers of the next inner vane so as to retain said next inner vane in open, and closed positions. A further object in this respect is to provide friction means on each cam follower whichare engageable with the next,

outer vane of the series to frictionallyresist rotation of each vane so as to avoid accidental or unwarranted opening or closing of the vanes. A related object is} to provide spring detent, means which is operative to retaine'ach vane in various positions. intermediate its open and closed positions, this means consisting of a resilient element having spaced depressions into which the end of a cam follower may snap;

Another'objectis to provid'e'a ventilator, of the class referred to, inwhich one of'the vanes may carry a sleeve whichis slidable within the inner tube of atwo-part-concentric duct through Whichair may flow in two directions; the air entering a space throughthe annular space stir-.- rounding the inner tube and discharging from said space through the inner tube, or vice versa. Another object is to provide. a ventilator, or the like, in which the outermost vane; of] the series has an annular deflector portion which serves to direct. air'flowing from the outer portion of the ventilator radially outwardly and in a plane spaced from the peripheral flange of the outervane. 'By this means, the air entering a room through the ventilator, which is installed in the; ceiling or wall thereof, is directed awayfrom the ceiling so as to avoid soi-l-ingthe eilin or wall. l

Another object is to provide a ventilator oi the type indicated in. which the innermost vane may surround the tubular support for a sus-. pended lightingfixture so that the ventilator and lighting fixture are combined in a unitary structure. Y

Another object is to provide a ventilator or like device which is economical to manufacture, the" several annular vanes being particularly adapted for mass production as sheet met'alj stampings.

A further oloject is to provide a' device 'oifthe character specified. which is light in weight, convenient to install and. operate, and onewhioh is. highly emcient in pe fo m n i s' n ensied function. 7

Further objects of the invention will appear from th rollowins. spec ficati n nd'fr m th d awings; wh ch ar nt n d or the] ur os or illustration only, strain which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved gas distributing device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the device taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, the several annular vanes being shown in open position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the device, the inner vanes being shown in section to illustrate the innermost vane in closed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 3, showing the several vanes in closed relationship;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of one of the cam followers and the friction means employed in connection therewith;

Fig. 6 is a view, partially in cross section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of one of an alternative annular vane showing slight variations in the cross-sectional shape and in the contour of the operating slots thereof;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the ventilator which is particularly adapted for use in connection with a duct having a two-way flow of air;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side view of a pair of the vanes, showing a modified type of friction and detent means for retaining one of the vanes in different positions of adjustment;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line I9I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a modified form of outermost vane; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the central portion of a ventilator in which is embodied the supporting tube of a lighting fixture.

Referring to the drawings in detail, our improved damper or ventilator device comprises a plurality of concentric, annular louvers or vanes III, II, I2, I3 and I I. The vanes II, I2, I3 and I ,4 are similar in cross-sectional shape, each vane having a tubular inner portion IS, a conical portion providing a tapered seat II, and an outer, annular, plate-like rim portion "I 8. V

' In other instances, the intersection of the tubular and rim portions may be curved to provide a part-spherical seat II. The several vanes are supported from the outermost vane I4 of the series of vanes by means to be presently described. The outermost vane I4 is adapted to be installed in an opening I9 of a building wall, such as the ceiling 29 of a room, or to be mounted in an air conditioning duct or in a side opening of such a duct. As shown in Fig. 2, the tubular portion I6 of the outermost vane may be disposed within the opening I9, the outer rim portion I8 being suitably secured to the portion of the ceiling surrounding the opening. The innermost vane I0 is similar to the vanes II to I4 but its central portion is closed by a cone 2I and a plate 22 (Fig. 2). The plate 22 carries a transverse finger piece 23 by means of which the vane I0 can be rotated.

The innermost vane I0 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending pins 25, the outer' ends of which provide cam followers 26. The cam followers 26 project radially outwardly through inclined cam slots 21 provided in the tubular portion I6 of the next outer annular vaneI I. Each cam slot 21 is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the plane of the rim portion I8. The lower end of the cam slot 21 terminates in a relatively short horizontal portion or land 28, the upper end of the slot having a similar straight portion or land 29, the closed end-s of the straight portions 28 and 29 providing abutments. The outer ends of the cam followers 26 have heads 30 and disposed between these heads and the periphery of the tubular portion I6 are resilient means, herein illustrated by way of example as spring washers 3| (Figs. 5 and 6), which frictionally engage the tubular portion I6 to frictionally resist movement of the cam followers in the cam slots 21 and their lands 28 and 29. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the washers may have a wavy configuration to adapt them to be compressed slightly in an axial direction between the heads 30 and the tubular portions I6 so as to effect frictional resistance to relative rotation between the vanes I0 and I I.

The vane I I is rotatably connected to the next outer vane I2 by similar pins 25 and cam slots 21. In a like manner, the vanes I2 and I3 are connected for limited rotation and axial movement within the respective vanes I3 and I4, and since the outermost vane I4 is stationary, the vanes I9, II, I2 and I3 are adapted to rotate and move axially with respect to the vane I4 and with respect to one another.

Assuming that the device is installed, for example, within the opening I9 of the ceiling of a room, and that the vanes I0 to I3 assume their open positions as shown in Fig. 2, the greatest effective area of the opening I 9 is utilized so that maximum volumetric flow of air therethrough is permitted. The air entering the room by way of the opening I9 may be used to replace air which is consumed by persons breathing the same. In other instances, the air entering the room may be utilized as a medium for balancing the temerature of the air in the room so as to maintain a substantially even room temperature. In this respect, it is to be noted that the device may be installed within a duct or within a side opening thereof when the duct supplies either heated or cooled air to a space. That is to say, the device may be advantageously employed as a means for mixing cool and warm air to maintain a substantially uniform temperature within a room or other space which is air conditioned. The device may also be installed in an opening of a partition between rooms for proportioning the cooling or heating medium introduced-into the rooms. Thus, a series of the devices may be employed for accurately controlling the flow of air between a number of rooms and for completely shutting off the flow. of air through certain of the wall openings. The device may be employed as a damper for closing a cooling system to prevent the escape of heat therethrough during the winter when the rooms are heated. Conversely, the damper device may effectively prevent the escape of cool air from rooms, through the heating ducts, during the summer season. As will be next shown, the effective cross-sectional area of the device may be adjusted with precision so as to accurately vary the volumetric flow of air therethrough.

When it is desired that the effective area of the opening I9, or the area of a duct within which the device is installed, be reduced, the innermost vane I9 is rotated in clockwise direction and this operation is facilitated by the finger piece 23 which is grasped between the fingers of the operator. During the initial rotation of the vane I0, its followers 25 slide in the straight portions 28 of the cam slots 21 of the vane I I and as the rotation iscontinued the followers ride upwardly in the inclined cam slots. Thus thecent'ral; vane H3 is movedv upwardly within the vane H to close the annular opening between these two vanes. As the followers 26 reach the upper ends of the camslots 21, the periphery of the flange l8 of the vane l engages the conical seat ll of the vane It, as shown in Fig. 3, so asto sealthe opening betweenthe vanes' l0 and landthus reduce the over-alleffective cross-sectional area of the device. rotation of the vane I 0 is continued, its followers 26 ente'r' the straight portions or lands 29 of the slots 21 and engage the closed ends or abutments thereof.

Ifilfurther closing of the ventilator is desired, rotation of thevane- I0 is continued. Engagementor the followers 260i the vane l9 against theclo'sed ends of the lands 29 of the vane 1! causes the latter to also rotate in clockwisedirec tion with its followers 26 riding in the cam slots 2! of the next outer vane l2. Eventually the followers 29 of the vane l i come to rest within the straight portions 29' of the cam slots 2'! of thevane H; at which time the rim portion or flange l 8 of the vane H engages the seat I! of the vane I 2" toclos'e' theannular opening between these two vanes.

By continuing the rotation of the vanes Hl'and ,theivanes l2 and I3 are successively rotated and moved axially in the manner explained above so that eventually each vane disposedinwardly from the outermost vane 54 is engaged With-an outer vane and the vanes H), H, |2 and it which, during the last part of the clockwise rotation, move as a unit, are brought into sealing engagementwith the outermost vane [4' (Fig. 4) At this stage, all the followers 25 are disposed within the straight portions 29 of the several cam'slots 21 and thus the vanes are held in closedrelationship.

In some installations, it is desirable that a partial flow of air through the, ventilator be effected at all times, This result may be attained with the present ventilator b y so locating the upper ends 29 of the cam slots 2'! with respect to the flange i8 that when each cam follower 26 reaches the upper extremity of a cam slot, the flange I8 of the vane carrying this follower isspaced slightly from the next outer vane of the series of vanes.

In order to positively retain the vanes in closed position, the friction washers 3i are employed, these washers resiliently engaging the vanes to resist rotation thereof and this is important when the damper or ventilator is installed in a wall or duct which is subject to vibration. It is 'to be noted that in addition to providing the cam followers 25, the pins 25 also serve as the sole mounting means by which each vane is supported from the adjacent, next outer vane.

When it is desired 'to open the fully closed damper or ventilator, the operation explained above is reversed. That is to say, the central vane ID is rotated in counterclockwise direction (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1). Since only the resistance offered by the washers 3| of the followers 26 of the vane I!) must be overcome to permit rotation of the latter, the vane I0 opens before the other vanes rotate. Thus, the vanes H], II, l2 and [3 are opened in succession as rotation of the central vane I6 is continued. Upon rotation of the innermost vane I0, its followers 26 slide down the inclined cam slots 21 of the next outer vane II and enter the lower straight portions 28 thereof. If this partial opening of the ventilator is insuflicient to establish the de- 6.. sired; passage of airtherethrough, the vane 102 is rotated'furtherin the same'direction so that its followers" Z6- engage the cmsecwnes, abutments of the straight portions 28 of the vane-N to'rotate the latterwithrespect to the next vane l2. In this manner, the vanelt also opened and if the opening of additional outer vanes is necessaryto obtain theJd'esired---efie'ctive cross-sectional area, therotation-of the -inner vanes is continued. When a fully open condition is necessary, the rotationis continueduntil the cam fo1l0wers 26 of the vane I '3 enter the straight.

lands zfl oi'the outermosu'fixed'vane 14-.

It'is' thus seen fromthe'foregoing that each vane is, iii-effect, screwedfinto' the-next-foizter vane ofthe'se'ries to-cl'ose-the-ventilator (Dr-damp er device, and unscrewed therefrom toi open the device. The operation cfopening'and closing the vanes in succession is readily accomplished; by simply'rotati'ng a single finger pier-fie. -Itiis of thetubular portionsli of thevanes'. "the ends of" the openings haves-laterally or alignlarly extending portions or rests-36 and 3l-,- the openings thus providing-in effect," double bayonet slots. The follower portions 26 {of 1 the were 25' extend through the slots '35- and when the ventilator is open they are disposed withinthe ex tensions 36. To close theventilatoneachvane is turned slightly to cause' its'followe'rs 2-6: to move laterally from the rests 36 into alignmentwith the slots 35 after which th-va nes- -"c'an b axially toengage their run portie sl I to cause their followers 26? td-enteftne rests '31", which act to retain 'thevan'slin closed relationship. To open the ventilator-or damp'r device; theabove p ocedure" is "reversed," it- -bei-ng apparent that during the closing and 'o en'm-g operation, the vanes are "actuated "in succession.

Referring now to Fig.8, theventilator 40, which-isfsim'ilar to the ventilator shown 'iiiFigii, is particularly adapted *to usein connection with a two-way'fiowduct 41 which is-frequentlyiised in air-conditioning systems As: indicatedfiby the arrows, the air may enter'a spa'cetobe conditioned through the annular space 42 existing. between the outer tube-'43 and-"-the inner tube 44 of the duct 4|, and discharge from the space through the central tube 44. To adapt the ventilator for use in connection with such a duct, we secure a tubular extension or sleeve 45 to the tubular portion 46 of one of the intermediate vanes of the series of concentric, adjustable vanes 41, 48, 49, 50 or 5| of the ventilator (here shown as attached to the vane 49). The sleeve 45 is received within the inner tube 44 and is slidable axially thereof as the vane 49 is moved axially to open and closed positions. By this arrangement, the vanes 41 to 5| may be adjusted to effect flow of air through the space 42 or through the inner tube 44 or through both, and the rate of air flow may be varied by adjusting the vanes.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative friction means for retaining the cam follower 55 of an annular vane 56 in different positions within the cam slot 51 of the next outer vane 58 of a series of concentric vanes. A detent element 60, preferablyv made from spring metal, is mounted on the vane 58, in spaced relation thereto, by means ofrivets or the like. The element is provided with aseries of depressions 62 on its inner side, the depressions being arranged in a line followin the cam slot 51. ,The cam follower 55 is provided with av rounded head 63 which is adapted to engage the resilient element 60 and to snap successively into the depressions 62 so as to retainthe vane 56 in different positions of adjustment relative to the next outer'vane 58.

Fig. 11 shows an outermost vane Ill of amultivane ventilator as having an annular deflector portion II which serves to direct the flow of air While the adjustable damper or ventilator device .is herein showniand described in several preferred forms of construction, by way ofexample, it will be apparentthat other modifications, might be made; in thev structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, we do not wish to be limited in this respect, but desire to be .affordedthe full scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention: 1

l A flow control device adapted to be carried by a supporting structure, including a plurality of concentric annular vanes of progres,

sively increasing diameters adapted to nest togeth r, the outermost of said vanes being adapted to bemounted on the supporting structure, each of said vanes excepting said outermost, being connected to the next vane outwardly therefrom by a cam means for moving such vane axially relative to said next vane outwardly therefrom in response to rotation thereof, each of said cam means being disposed between a pair of said vanes and including a cam on one of the vanes of such pair and a cam follower on the other of the vanes of such pair and engaging said cam.

2. A flow control device according 'to, claim 1' wherein said cam of each of said cam means comprises a slot and wherein said cam follower thereof comprises a pin disposed in such slot.

3. A flow control device according to claim 1 wherein said cam of each of said cam means comprises a slot and wherein said cam follower thereof comprises a pin disposed in such slot, said slot of each of said cam means including a portion which makes an acute angle with the common axis of said annular vanes.

4. A flow control device according to claim 1 wherein said cam of each of said cam means comprises a slot and wherein said cam follower thereof comprises a pin disposed in such slot, said slot of each of said cam means including a portion parallel to the common axis of said annular vanes.

5. A flow control device adapted to be carried by a supporting structure, including a plurality of concentric annular vanes of progressively increasing diameters adapted to nest together, the outermost of said vanes being adapted to be mounted on the supporting structure, each of said vanes, excepting said outermost, being connected to the next vane outwardly therefrom by a cam means for moving such vane axially relative to said next vane outwardly therefrom in response to rotation thereof, each of said vanes having a tubular portion, each of said cam means being disposed between a pair of said tubular portions and including a plurality of cams on one of the tubular portions of such pair and a plurality of cam followers on the other and engaging said cams, respectively.

6. A flow control device according to claim 5 wherein said cams of each cam means are slots and said cam followers are pins disposed in said slots, respectively.

7. A flow control device according to claim 6 including detent means carried by said tubular portions of said vanes, respectively, in registry with said slots, respectively, and engaged by the outer ends of said pins, respectively.

HILTON H. MCCABE.

JOHN M. CONNELL. MERRITT H. DAILEY. LAWRENCE W. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,125,454 Marshall Aug. 2, 1938 2,269,376 ODay Jan. 6, 1942 2,345,933 Kurth et al Apr. 4, 1944 2,355,294 Herbster Aug. 8, 1944.

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,048 Great Britain Jan. 11, 1932 485,889 Great Britain May 26, 1938 

